What can I say? This painting and I used to have a love/hate relationship until we both finally said enough is enough. Change must happen; all you have to do is start and thus change begins.
For reference here’s the beginning http://www.jasminegreenphoto.com/blog/feeling-inspired
Because we are all on lockdown and can’t socialize, what do the three amigos decide to do? ROAD TRIP! This camping trip I challenged myself by doubling my longest drive time of 2 hours. Sabine National Forest is only 4 (and a half) hours away let’s hit the road and get out of the house. The drive there was CRAZY! The car almost got stuck in the mud, we had to drive over a tree, and it’s raining! Did I mention I drive a 2013 Honda Civic that’s carrying a kayak and two paddleboards?
After I thought our demise was coming we finally arrived at the most peaceful campsite I had experienced today! Even when raining this place was paradise.
Lastly, I can’t forget about the light painting!
I am black and I am not scary.
I am black and I am not a threat.
I am black and can you stop shooting us.
I am black and you do not have to fear me.
On Saturday, May 30th in Dallas, Texas I woke up to the news that my job will be closing due to protesting. I was excited to have the day off so I took this opportunity to see first hand what is happening downtown during the protest. When we arrived at the start of the march everyone was kind and handed out water because it was HOT outside. You can feel the energy of the community as we shouted chants and kneeled in solidarity. We marched the designated areas TWICE peacefully.
During our second time around I saw a cop SUV try inching through the crowd. The cop almost ran over a young white woman and so she punched the car. People around joined in hitting and throwing water bottles at the SUV until it finally made its way through the crowd. Nothing happened after that until much later when a cop threw tear gas into a peaceful crowd causing chaos.
The media portrays the protests as a frightening and violent movement, but it was actually peaceful. If a small percentage of looters discredits the movement then what does a small percentage of bad cops do? I do not condone looting and vandalism but I understand why the people are upset.
I believe that all lives matter, but the point was missed when the “All Lives Matter” movement became a response to “Black Lives Matter”. When we say black lives matter we are saying WE ARE HERE and to stop killing us. We are not saying the other races don’t matter, we are saying we want to be treated equally and fairly. I do not understand why we are being judged by the color of our skin.
The community is hurting for equality. We are in pain because of the injustice to our people. Police brutality must be stopped for a better future. We denounce systemic racism and violence against the Black community. We will continue to work towards a future marked by empathy and inclusion and stand with our black creators, players, employees, families, and friends. BLACK LIVES MATTER!
TRAYVON MARTIN (Walking home with iced tea and Skittles. Shot by George Zinneman, who was found not guilty.) FEBRUARY 2012
KEITH SCOTT (Sitting in car, reading. Shot by police officer, who was not charged.) SEPTEMBER 2016
ATATIANA JEFFERSON (Looking out her window, shot by police officer, who is still under indictment for murder.) OCTOBER 2019
JONATHAN FERRELL (Asking for help after an auto accident. Shot twelve times by police, case ended in mistrial.) SEPTEMBER 2013
JORDAN EDWARDS (Riding in a car. Shot in the back of the head by police officer, who was found guilty of murder.) APRIL 2017
STEPHON CLARK (Holding a cellphone. Shot 8 times, 6 in the back. Officers not charged.) MARCH 2018
AMADOU DIALLO (While taking out wallet, officers fired 41 shots by four officers, who were all acquitted.) APRIL 1999
RENISHA MCBRIDE (Auto accident, knocked on door for help. Homeowner was found guilty of second-degree murder.) NOVEMBER 2013
TAMIR RICE (Playing with toy gun, shot by police officer arriving on scene. Officer was not charged. NOVEMBER 2014
SEAN BELL (Hosting a bachelor party, 50 rounds fired by police officers, who were found not guilty of charges.) NOVEMBER 2006
WALTER SCOTT (Pulled over for brake light, shot in the back by police officer, who pleaded guilty to civil rights violations.) APRIL 2015
PHILANDO CASTILE (Pulled over in car, told officer he had a legally registered weapon in car. Officer acquitted of all charges.) JULY 2016
AIYANA JONES (Sleeping, accidentally shot by officer in a raid on the wrong apartment. Officer cleared of all charges.) MAY 2010
TERRENCE CRUTCHER (Disabled vehicle, shot by police officer, who was found not guilty of manslaughter.) SEPTEMBER 2016
ALTON STERLING (Selling CDs, shot at close range while being arrested. No charges filed.) JULY 2016
FREDDIE GRAY (Beaten to death by officers while being transported in a police van. All officers involved were acquitted.) APRIL 2015
JOHN CRAWFORD (Shopping at WalMart, holding a BB gun on sale, police officer was not charged.) AUGUST 2014
MICHAEL BROWN (Shot by twelve times by officer, including in the back. No charges filed.) AUGUST 2014
JORDAN DAVIS (Killed because he was playing loud music. Shooter found guilty of first-degree murder.) NOVEMBER 2012
SANDRA BLAND (Pulled over for traffic ticket, tasered and arrested. Suspicious “suicide” while in jail. No charges.) JULY 2015
BOTHAM JEAN (Shot at home, which police officer mistook for her own. Officer found guilty of murder.) SEPTEMBER 2018
OSCAR GRANT (Handcuffed and face-down, officer shot him in the back. Officer found guilty of involuntary manslaughter.) JANUARY 2009
COREY JONES (Waiting by his disabled vehicle, was shot three times by police officer, who was found guilty of murder.) OCTOBER 2015
AHMAUD ARBERY (Jogging, shot by two men who claimed they suspected him of burglaries. Both men charged with murder and aggravated assault.) FEBRUARY 2020
The names listed are not the only names and the list keeps growing. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
REST IN PEACE GEORGE FLOYD.
